Hard-hitting safety Cliff Harris has gone from Ouachita Baptist University to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The standout tackler and cover man for the Dallas Cowboys from 1970-79 has been inducted as part of the centennial class.
Harris went from a small school (NAIA) star to an undrafted rookie who started from the outset in Dallas. Known almost as much for the high-top shoes he wore as for his heavy and sure tackles, Harris made the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, earning the nickname Captain Crash.
He also had to juggle National Guard duties during his first few NFL seasons, sometimes reporting for duty during the week and usually getting to rejoin his teammates for games.
“We were the Doomsday Defense,” Harris recalled. “The odds of me playing in the NFL, much less me standing here tonight, were incredibly long. I may be the only one who knows how truly slim that chance was, but if I could make it, anyone can achieve their goals. The key is to never quit.”
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